FreightConnect

Core Features / Email To Load

Email-to-Load Parser

Forward shipper emails to FreightConnect and let the AI automatically extract load information. This cuts load entry time from 10 minutes to 30 seconds.

How It Works

Send any shipper email to:

load@freightconnect.ai

The AI:

  1. Extracts pickup and delivery addresses
  2. Identifies weight, commodity, and equipment type
  3. Parses dates and special instructions
  4. Suggests a freight class (NMFC)
  5. Recommends a rate based on your historical data
  6. Creates a load draft

The parsed load appears in Loads → Drafts within 30 seconds. You review and post.

What the Parser Looks For

The email can be in any format. The parser handles:

  • Addresses — "Ship from 123 Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90001 to 456 Park Ave, New York, NY 10001"
  • Weight — "25,000 lbs," "18 pallets," "1 skid (5000 lbs)"
  • Commodity — "electronics," "perishables," "machinery," etc.
  • Equipment — "53' dry van," "reefer," "flatbed," "LTL," etc.
  • Dates — "pickup Monday, delivery Friday," "ship ASAP," "must arrive by 3/15"
  • Special instructions — "liftgate required," "notify 2 hours before delivery," "inside delivery," "dock appointment needed"

Parser Accuracy

The system typically captures 90%+ of structured information correctly. If the email is ambiguous or lacks details, it flags uncertainties:

  • Missing field — if no weight is mentioned, the parser shows a warning
  • Uncertain match — if the city name is ambiguous, it shows "Los Angeles, CA or Los Angeles, TX?"
  • Commodity estimate — if "parts" is vague, it suggests "machinery" but marks it as uncertain

You can override any field in the draft before posting.

Batch Email Processing

If you receive 10+ loads per day via email:

  1. Create an email alias or distribution list: loads@yourbrokerage.com
  2. Forward that to load@freightconnect.ai
  3. All emails land in one inbox, which FreightConnect processes in batch

Each email becomes a separate load draft. Your team reviews the batch every morning and posts together.

Email Format Examples

The parser handles many formats:

Formal (Best for parsing)

Pickup: 123 Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90001 (available Tue 3/15 at 8am)
Delivery: 456 Park Ave, New York, NY 10001 (preferred by Fri 3/19 by 3pm)
Weight: 24,500 lbs
Commodity: Electronics
Equipment: 53' Dry Van
Special: Liftgate required, inside delivery

Casual

Hey, we need to move 20 pallets of perishables from Chicago to Dallas next Monday. Need it by Wed. It's got to stay cold (reefer required). Thanks!

Forwarded (includes shipper quote)

From: [Shipper]
Can you move:
- Load ID: 12345
- From: Portland, OR warehouse
- To: Seattle, WA distribution center
- Qty: Full truckload, 35,000 lbs of dry goods
- Timeline: Pickup Tue 3/18, delivery by Thu 3/20
- Cost: $1,800 flat

All parse correctly.

Email Attachments

If the shipper attaches a BOL or spec sheet with load details:

  • The parser extracts text from PDFs
  • It reads tables and structured data
  • Handwritten attachments are skipped (text-only)

Recurring Loads

If you get the same shipper sending loads repeatedly:

  1. In Loads → Drafts, select a parsed load
  2. Click Create Template
  3. Name it (e.g., "ABC Corp – Regular Route")
  4. Mark which fields are fixed (origin, destination, equipment)
  5. Mark which fields change each time (weight, date)

Next time you get an email from this shipper, the parser pre-fills the fixed fields, saving more time.

Editing Parsed Loads

Click into a draft to:

  • Correct addresses (if parser got them wrong)
  • Adjust weight or commodity
  • Add shipper contact info if missing
  • Override the suggested rate
  • Add internal notes

Once corrected, click Preview and then Post to Network to send quotes to carriers.

Disambiguation

If an email is unclear, the parser shows a disambiguation dialog:

Example: Email says "Load from Boston to Portland"

  • Portland, OR? (1,650 miles, 2 days)
  • Portland, ME? (100 miles, 3 hours)

You select the correct one. The parser learns from your choice and improves future Boston-Portland references.

Forwarding Rules (Enterprise)

Enterprise plans can set forwarding rules in Settings → Email Automation:

  • Auto-post drafts from shipper X — if they're a returning customer, auto-post without manual review
  • Assign to team member Y — all loads from shipper Z go to dispatcher Y for assignment
  • Apply rate template — use the shipper's standing rate agreement automatically
  • Auto-accept carrier quotes above X FSC — for reliable shippers, auto-accept best quote

These require initial setup but save hours per month on routine loads.

Support for Email Signatures

The parser ignores email signatures, legal footers, and quoted conversation history. It extracts only the relevant load information.

Troubleshooting

Load doesn't appear: Check that the email was sent to load@freightconnect.ai and check your spam folder. If still missing, contact matt@freightconnect.ai.

Parser misunderstood the weight: Edit the draft and correct it. The parser learns from corrections over time.

Shipper info is missing: Add it manually in the draft before posting. You can also reply to the shipper asking for clarification.

Next Steps

Last updated: April 2026